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A licensed practical nurse, or LPN, is responsible for basic nursing care. She may perform tasks such as checking a patient’s blood pressure, changing a dressing or inserting a catheter. In most circumstances, an LPN -- known as a licensed vocational nurse, or LVN, in Texas and California -- must work under the direction of a physician or registered nurse, or RN. Although an LPN cannot legally be a nurse manager, there are circumstances in which the LPN may be a supervisor.

A licensed practical nurse, or LPN, is responsible for basic nursing care. She may perform tasks such as checking a patient’s blood pressure, changing a dressing or inserting a catheter. In most circumstances, an LPN -- known as a licensed vocational nurse, or LVN, in Texas and California -- must work under the direction of a physician or registered nurse, or RN. Although an LPN cannot legally be a nurse manager, there are circumstances in which the LPN may be a supervisor.

Scope of Practice

The general rule of supervision in nursing is that a nurse with a wider scope of practice supervises staff who have a lesser scope. Scope of practice determines the tasks a nurse can perform and the limits of her legal responsibility. Because the RN has the widest scope of practice, she can supervise many levels of staff, including LPNs, medical assistants, nurse aides, orderlies, clerks and technicians. However, LPNs may supervise other LPNs, medical assistants and nurse aides. An LPN cannot supervise an RN because of the difference in scope of practice.

Supervision

LPNs may work in supervisory roles in some facilities and in some states. In Iowa, an LPN may work as a supervisor in a nursing facility, but she must still work under the direction of an RN. In addition, the LPN must complete an approved course in supervision within six months of taking the supervisor role, according to the Iowa Board of Nursing. In California, an LVN may be responsible for nursing services in a primary care clinic if the clinic is unable to find an RN for the position and requests a waiver from the Department of Health Services. However, the LVN must have an RN available for consultation.

Labor Relations

LPNs are considered supervisors in some states for labor relations purposes. In an October 2012 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the court reversed a decision by the National Labor Relations Board and declared that LPNs were supervisors, according to an October 2012 article by the Littler Mendelson law firm. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has jurisdiction over federal cases originating in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Nurse Managers

Nurse managers are responsible for much more than supervision of employees. A nurse manager must be competent and knowledgeable in healthcare finance, human resource management, strategic planning and development. She must understand scope of practice issues and ensure the clinical competency of all staff under her supervision. Nurse managers are registered nurses, especially in hospitals, because RNs are taught these skills and have the highest scope of practice. Each state regulates RNs and LPNs regarding scope of practice. In North Carolina, for example, the Board of Nursing specifically states that LPNs cannot be responsible for nursing unit management because of their limited scope.

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earned a median annual salary of $44,090 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earned a 25th percentile salary of $37,040, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $51,220, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 724,500 people were employed in the U.S. as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.

About the Author

Beth Greenwood is an RN and has been a writer since 2010. She specializes in medical and health topics, as well as career articles about health care professions. Greenwood holds an Associate of Science in nursing from Shasta College.